How to Organize Plastic Bags

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If you go shopping for groceries often, plastic grocery bags can quickly accumulate into a mess and become hard to manage. Plastic bags can take up a lot of space and potentially create a lot of waste, but they are also easy to recycle and can be repurposed for a variety of uses. By making a dedicated container for the plastic bags and learning to store them compactly, you can avoid the clutter and have an efficient way to access the plastic bags whenever you need them or are ready to recycle them.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Repurposing Old Containers

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  1. Throw away any plastic bags that are covered in food particles, as these will become unsanitary and might lead to unpleasant odors. Bags should be dry and free from food waste before being taken to a recycling facility. [1]
    • Anything made out of plastic film, like bread bags, dry cleaning wraps, bags that newspapers come in, and cereal box liners, can usually be recycled alongside plastic grocery bags. [2]
    • If you aren’t sure what your local recycling facilities will accept, call them and ask what’s okay to recycle.
  2. One of the easiest no-hassle ways to store plastic bags is to stuff them into an old tissue box. [3] The opening at the top of the box makes it easy to insert new bags and to take them out as you use them.
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  3. If you have an old shoebox, you can store it at the bottom of a cabinet and use it as a container for plastic bags. Some people find the sight of loose plastic bags displeasing, and a shoe box will keep the plastic bags hidden from plain view.
  4. Compress bags into a ball and store them in another bag, then tie off the storage bag at the top. This keeps the bags together in one place and makes it easy to recycle them. When you’re ready to take them to be recycled, you can easily grab a bag of bags and take it with you.
  5. If you have an extra basket that can hang on the side of a cabinet, you can store many bags in it before it becomes full. You can also use an old container of cleaning wipes or a plastic filing box as a container. [4]
    • If you think it’s worth the investment, you can buy containers specially-made for plastic bags from home goods stores like Ikea.
    • You can also hang baskets using a wall slat system. [5]
    • Make sure whatever container you use is clean, dry, and free from sharp edges that could damage the bags, especially if you plan on reusing them.
  6. You might prefer to keep the container out of sight if you prefer not to have the plastic bags in plain view. It’s common to store your plastic bags in a cabinet, in the laundry area, or on the floor of the pantry.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Minimizing Space Usage

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  1. Tying the bags into knots is a great way to reduce the amount of space they take up. An easy way to make a knot is to fold them lengthwise and make a simple overhand knot.
    • Once they’re knotted, you can store them in your container of choice until you’re ready to use them.
    • Whenever you need one, just take out a knotted bag and untie the knot.
  2. Plastic bags can be folded into compact triangles that make them more visually appealing and easy to store. It takes a bit more effort than balling them up or tying them into knots, but turning them into triangles can add some fun to the task. Think of it as a craft instead of a chore.
  3. 3
    Fold them into stackable squares. Straighten the two handles and lay flat on a hard surface. Fold the bottom upwards onto the top half, and fold from left to right.
  4. Lay several bags flat on a hard surface, roll them into a cylinder, and then tie them together with another bag or a rubber band. This will keep all of the bags together and makes it so you only have one item to keep track of.
  5. There are several ways to recycle your newly-organized plastic bags. Most curbside recycling programs don’t accept plastic grocery bags, but you can usually drop them off at a grocery store or a similar retail location like Walmart or Target. [6]
    • Get creative! You can reuse the bags as trash liners, wrapping for delicate items, pillowcase stuffing, and much more.
    • If you notice that your containers start accumulating a lot of bags, it might be time to make a recycling trip.
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      Tips

      • Try making it a regular habit to take excess plastic bags with you when you go grocery shopping so you can recycle them.
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      • If you don't have a lot of space, use a smaller container that can be easily stowed away, then recycle bags whenever the container gets full.
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      Warnings

      • Different areas have different recycling policies, and not all facilities accept the same kinds of plastic bags and foils. Check with your local recycling center if you aren't sure what they can accept.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/recycling-bags-and-wraps/plastic-film-education-individuals/
      2. ↑ https://livegreen.recyclebank.com/because-you-asked-can-i-recycle-plastic-grocery-bags-in-the-recycling-bin
      3. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-store-plastic-bags/
      4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/6-smart-ways-to-organize-your-extra-grocery-bags-242338
      5. ↑ Robert Rybarski. Organizational Specialist. Expert Interview. 31 January 2020.
      6. ↑ https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/recycling-bags-and-wraps/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you’ve got cupboards full of old plastic bags, you can use a few tricks to keep them organized. One easy method is to stuff your bags into an old tissue box so you can easily pull one out when you need it. You can also store a lot of bags inside a shoe box, or simply store them inside another plastic bag. Alternatively, get a basket that’s designed for storing plastic bags from a home accessories store. These hang on the side of a cabinet and give you easy access to your bags. If you have more bags than you can store, take the extras to a grocery store that recycles old bags next time you go. For more tips, including how to fold your plastic bags to take up less space, read on!

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